Reality check FAILED last night!

[littledreamer]

I'm not sure how it happened, but my primary RC failed completely last night. I was dreaming about something. Then what I would consider a Dream Sign showed up. I questioned the dream by bringing my hand up and looking to see if anything looked weird, my primary RC. I had 6 fingers, with an extra sticking out of my index. You would think this would make me lucid instantly, but no. I stared at my hand for a while, then went on like it wasn't a big deal that I happened to have 6 fingers! Any ideas on why this happened? The few times I've been lucid were started by this exact RC. LD

[MadMonkey]

Doesn't sound like your RC failed. You just weren't paying enough attention and you never became lucid. In normal dreams we don't have the ability to use reason. When we become lucid we regain that ability. It just didn't kick in for you. When you do RCs while awake make sure you don't just go through the motions and really ask yourself weather you are dreaming or not.

[Puffin]

MadMonkey's right. Your RC didn't fail, but your awareness simply wasn't high enough to notice that having 6 fingers meant you were dreaming. If you do a lot of RCs in waking life, especially if you don't really take the time to question what's around you and whether you're dreaming, they'll carry over into your dreams without you being aware enough to notice them. You were very close to a lucid though, keep it up! Just work a bit more on your awareness.

[Solarflare]

lack of awareness

[littledreamer]

I appreciate the responses. Besides doing the reality check often, what would you suggest to increase my chances? (What thought process would you recommend, if that makes sense?) Thanks again for the help. Maybe the same thing will happen tonight and it'll remind me of this thread. One can hope.

[Solarflare]

read puffins or KingYoshi's Awarness guides.

[SergSG]

You did the RC but you didn't question reality, that often happens to me too. For example just last night in a dream i got in a car with some friends and it went forward for a few meters before it stopped, when i got out i was on the other side of the city. I thought that was very odd but i failed to become lucid and just accepted it. If i had asked myself how that could possibly happen i would most likely had become lucid, so the lesson here is to always question reality both in dreams and IRL. Like someone already said you should check out puffin's or KingYoshi's awareness guides they will really help you. Good Luck

[Imbrainy]

This is why it's best to use two or more RC methods each time you do a RC. I would suggest pinching your nose and trying to breathe, as that is the other one that I use besides counting fingers. Each time you reality check, remember that you're just questioning if where you are is real. If you just do the movements, you're not really questioning anything, and then don't get lucid. It happens to me, as well. I hope you have success with it though!

[Rybread34]

The watch reality check has never failed me. Everybody should have a watch.

[zhineTech]

2 LDs ago I did the hand RC and my hand looked spot on normal. I didn't fall for it however, I looked away, looked back and had 7 fingers. Gotta be aware!